How Many Times Will You Crash Your Car?

Keep your eyes on the road. NHTSA data show that 995 of the 30,797 fatal crashes in 2009 involved drivers using cell phones. Nearly, 5,500 traffic deaths involved a driver distracted by something inside the car, including technology, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation

Don’t speed. Nearly one-third of all fatal accidents are attributed to speeding or driving too fast for conditions. Speeding is the single greatest contributor to accidents other than impaired driving. Insurance companies love such proven risk factors when assessing rates. Anyone who’s seen their premiums skyrocket after getting a ticket knows this well.

Avoid congestion. Less than a quarter of both injury crashes and non-injury crashes in 2009 occurred on roadways with a posted speed limit of 55 mph or higher. Fewer intersections apparently make for fewer crashes. Be careful, though: When accidents do occur on these highways, they are more likely to be deadly, accounting for nearly half of all traffic fatalities.